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82 Cards in this Set

a long thin collection of nerve cells attached to the base of the brain and running the length of the spinal column

Nerve

a bundle of nerve fibres that transmit information between the central nervous system and the body’s sense organs, muscles, and glands

Peripheral nervous system

the cranial and spinal nerves; that part of the nervous system peripheral to the brain and spinal cord

Brain stem

- The “stem” of the brain, including the medulla, pons, and mid-brain

Cerebral hemisphere

the largest part of the brain; covered by the cerebral cortex and containing parts of the brain that evolved most recently

Cerebellum

a pair of hemispheres resembling the cerebral hemispheres but much smaller and lying beneath and in back of them; controls posture an =d movements, especially rapid ones

Vertebra

one of the bones that encase the spinal cord and constitue the vertebral column

Meninges

the three-layered set of membranes that enclose the brain and spinal cord

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

the liquid in which the brain and spinal cord float; providea shock-absorbing cushion

Cerebral cortex

the outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres of the brain approximately 3 mm thick

Grey matter

the portions of the central nervous system that are abundant in cell bodies of neurons rather than axons. The color appears grey relative to white matter

White matter

the portions of the central nervous system that are abundant in axons rather than cell bodies of neurons, the color the color derives from the presence of the axons’ myelin sheaths.

Spinal nerve

a bundle of nerve fibres attached to the spinal cord; conveys sensory information from the body and carries messages to muscles and glands

Cranial nerve

a bundle of nerve fibres attached to the base of the brain; conveys sensory information from the face and head and carries messages to muscles and glands.

Neuron

a nerve cell; consists of a cell body with dendrites and an axon whose branches end in terminal buttons that synapses with muscles fibres, gland cells , or other neurons

Glial cell

a cell of the central nervous system that provides support for neurons and supplies them with some essential chemicals

Soma

a cell body; the largest part of a neuron

Denrite

a treelike part of a neuron on which other neurons from synapses

Axon

a long thin part of a neuron attached to the soma; divides into a few or many branches, ending in terminal buttons.

Dendritic spine

a small bud-like protuberance on the surface of a neuron’s dendrite

Terminal button

the rounded swelling at the end of the axon of a neuron; releases transmitter substance

Transmitter substance

a chemical released by the terminal button that causes the postsynaptic neuron to be excited or inhibited

Myelin sheath

the insulating material that encases most large axons

Action potential

a brief electrochemical event that is carried by an axon from the soma of the neuron to its terminal buttons; causes the release of a transmitter substance

Ion

A positively or negatively charged particle; produced when many substances dissolve in water

Ion channel

a special protein molecule located in the membrane of a cell; controls the entry or exit of particular ions

Ion transporter

a special protein molecule located in the membrane of a cell; actively transports ions into or out of the cell.

Synapses

the junction between the terminal button of the neuron and the membrane of a muscle fibre, a gland, or another neuron

Presynaptic neuron

a neuron whose terminal buttons from synapses with and excited or inhibited by that neuron

Motor neuron

a neuron whose terminal buttons form synapses with muscle fibres. When an action potential travels down its axon, the associated muscle fibres will twitch.

Synaptic cleft

a fluid-filled gap between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes; the terminal button releases transmitter substances into this space.

Receptor molecule

Receptor molecule- a special protein molecule located in the membrane of the postsynaptic neuron that responds to molecules of the transmitter substances receptors such as those that respond to opiates are sometimes found elsewhere on the surface of neurons.

Reuptake

the process by which a terminal button retrieves the molecules of the transmitter substance that it has jest released; terminates the effect of the transmitter substance on the receptors of the postsynaptic neuron

Sensory neuron

a neuron that detects changes in the external or internal environment and sends information about these changes to the central nervous system

Interneuron

a neuron located entirely within the central nervous system

Neuronmodulator

a substance secreted in the brain that modulates the activity of neurons that contain the appropriate receptor molecules

Opioid

a neuromodulator whose action is mimicked by a natural or synthetic opiate, such as opium, morphine, or heroin

Brain lesion

damage to a particular region of the brain; a synonym for experimental ablation

Stereotaxic apparatus

a device used to insert an electrode into a particular part of the brain for the purpose of recording electrical activity, stimulating the brain electrically, or producing localized damage

Microelectrode

a thin electrode made of wire or glass that can measure the electrical activity of a single neuron

Magneteoncephalopraphy

a method of brain study that measures the change in magnetic fields that accompany action potentials in the cerebral cortex

Microdialysis

a procedure that collects solutions surrounding the brain’s neurons for subsequent chemical analysis

a device that uses a special X-ray machine and a computer to produce images of the brain that appear as slices taken parallel to the top of the skull.

Anterior

Toward the front

Posterior

toward the back

Frontal lobe

the front portion of the cerebral cortex, including Broca’s speech area and the motor cortex; damage impairs movement, planning, and flexibility in behavioural strategies

Parietal lobe

the region of the cerebral cortex behind the frontal lobe and above the temporal lobe; contains the auditory cortex

Occipital lobe

the rearmost portion of the cerebral cortex; contains the primary visual cortex

Primary somatosensory cortex

the region of the cerebral cortex that receives information directly from the somatosensory system (touch, pressure, vibration, pain and temperature): located in the front part of the parietal lobes.

Contralateral

residing in the side of the body opposite the reference point

Primary motor cortex

the region of the cerebral cortex that directly controls the movements of the body; located posterior to the frontal lobes

Sensory association cortex

those regions of cerebral cortex that receive information from the primary sensory areas

Prefrontal cortex

the anterior part of the frontal lobe; contains the motor association cortex

Motor association cortex

those regions of the cerebral cortex that control the primary motor cortex; involved in planning and executing behaviors

Corpus callosum

a large bundle of axon (“white matter”) that connects the cortex of the two cerebral hemispheres

Visual agnosia

the inability of a person who is not blind or recognize the identity or use of an object by means of vision; usually caused by damage to the brain

Homeostasis

the process by which important physiological characteristics (such as body temperature and blood pressure) are regulated so that they remain at their optimum level

Species

typical behavior- a behavior seen in all or most members of a species, such as nest building, special food-getting behaviors, involved in control of sleep

Medulla

the part of the brain stem closest to the spinal cord; controls vital functions such as heart rate and blood pressure

Pons

the part of the brain stem just anterior to the medulla; involved in control of sleep

Mid brain

the part of the brain stem just anterior to the pons; involved in control of fighting and sexual behavior and in decreased sensitivity to pain during these behaviors

Thalamus

a region of the brain near the centre of the cerebral hemispheres. All sensory information except smell is sent to the thalamus and then relayed to the cerebral cortex.

Hypothalamus

a region of the brain located just above the pituitary gland; controls the automatic nervous system and many behaviors related to regulation and survival, such as eating, drinking fighting, shivering, and sweating

Pituitary gland

an endocrine gland attached to the hypothalamus at the base of the brain

Endocrine gland

a gland that secretes a hormone

Hormone

a chemical substance secreted by an endocrine gland that has physiological effects on target cells in other organs

Target cell

a cell whose physiological processes are affected by a particular hormone; contains special receptor molecules that respond to the presence of the hormone

Automatic nervous system

the portion of the peripheral nervous system that controls the functions of the glands and internal organs

Sympathetic branch

the portion of the autonomic nervous system that activates functions that accompany arousal and expenditure of energy

Parasympathetic branch

the portion of the autonomic nervous system that activates functions that occur during a relaxed state

Limbic system

a set of interconnected structures of the brain important in emotional and species- typical behavior includes the amygdale, hippocampus, and limbic cortex

Limbic cortex

the cerebral cortex located around the edge of the cerebral hemispheres where they join with the brain stem; part of the limbic system

Amygdala

a part of the limbic system of the brain located deep in the temporal lobe; damage causes changes in emotional and aggressive behavior

Hippocampus

a part of the limbic system of the brain located in the temporal lobe; plays important roles in learning

Barbiturate

a drug that causes sedation; one of several derivatives of barbituric acid

Antianxiety drug

a “tranquilizer,” which reduces anxiety. The most common are chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and diazepam (valium)

Benzodiazepine

a class of drug having anxiolytic (tranquilizing) effects; examples are Librium and valium

Tolerance

the decreased sensitivity to a drug resulting from its continued use

Withdrawal symptom

an effect produced by discontinuance of use of a drug after a period of continued use; generally opposite to the drug’s primary effects